Underreamer.



I WITNI-:sSEs

F. A. HAUGH.

UNDERREAMER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 19u.

1,257',.326.` l .Patented Feb.19,1918.

.lllllll yall/710A. Fay/z 14 J3 JZ fU-NiTED sTAaEs PArENr onirica--FRANK A HAUcr-I, or nLDoRAno, KANSAS, AssIGNon To cAMDoN L. BLooivr, oFINDEPENDENCE, KANSAS.

UNDERREAIVIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918,.

Application filed March 31, 1917. Serial N o. 158,886.

To aZZ whom it may concern.' v

Be it knownthat I, FRANK A. HAUGH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Eldorado, in the county of Butler and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Underreamer, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to underreamers, or expanding bits forunderreaming beneath the casing in drilling wells. An object of theinvention is to provide an improved construction which can be insertedinto and withdrawn from wells, or other borings, thlou h their casings,without damaging or brea ing off the cutters or other parts and soleavin them in the well, and without damaging t e casings.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide a construction havingcutters which can be easily moved to and from operative position, heldrigidly in operativepositiomor quickly removed and replaced, if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction having alplurality of series of superimposed cutters provided with automaticmechanism common to the series for holding them rigidly in projected oroperative position or to allow them lto move into inoperative position.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one embodiment of theinvention,

in which:

Figure 1 is a` longitudinal `view of the underreamer.v

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe same on a larger scalethanFig. Lebowing` the cutters in operative positlon.

ig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on a, larger scale than Fig. 1,showing the underreamer in the well casing and the cylindrical ring usedin holding trips in while the underreamer is being moved to the bottomof the casing.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the underreamer, .showing theslot in which the trips work.

Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in section, of one of the cutters.

The underreamer of the embodiment of.

the invention herein shown. and described comprises a body portion orcylinder l having a chamber or longitudinal bore'2 at its lower end. Thewalls of the longitudinal bore 2 are provided with a lower series and 60an upper series of circumiferentially arranged slots 3 extendinglongitudinally ov v and from Fig. l, are staggered outwardly for apurpose to be hereinafter 10 describe Mounted within each slot is acutter 5. Each cutter at its upper end has a projecting 'lug 6 having aytransversely extending hole 7 therethrough. A radially extending 75 pin8 is arranged immediately 'above each slot, projects inwardly into thebore 2 and Supports the cutter by extending through the hole 7 of thelug 6. This cutter has no other means of support and can be easilydisengaged from the pin when so desired. The inner edge 9 ofl each.cutter is inclined and extends downwardly toward the center of thecylinder 1. The outer edge 10 of each cutter is also inclined andextends downwardly and outwardly when in projected position. Each cutterat the top and bottom 1s providedwith edges 11 and 12 which are beveledand converge outwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, in order to engageand t'90 the beveled portions 4 of the slot whereby when the cutters arepressed outwardly, they will be rigidly supported and securely retainedwithin their slots. The lower inner portion of each cutter has y,aprojection or lug-'13 constituting a stop, which, when the cutters areprojected, as show'n in Fig. 2 engages the cylinder 1 immediately belowthe slot. The outer lower portion-of each cutter is notched at 14 whichinsures a better 100 cutting effect.

A-plunger rod 15 is provided within the underreamer and reciprocateslongitudinally therein. A tapered plunger head 16 is threaded, as shownat 17 to the lower end 105 f of the 'rod and isv arranged to engage theinner" edges 9 of the lower series' of cutters. Slidably mounted on therod 15 above and spaced from the vlower plunger head 16 is a taperedplunger head 18 abutting a 1,19

suitable collar 19 upon the plunger rod. Communicating and alined withthe bore or chamber 2 is a similar bore 20 of reduced diameterconstituting a housing for a spring 21 which is interposed between theupperportion of the plunger head 18 and the upper end of the bore 20.This spring acting upon the plunger head 18 tends to keep both headsdepressed and in the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby they engage theinner edges of the cutters and force them into the slots and hold themrigidly therein and in projected position. The plunger heads also serve,when in raised position, as shown in Fig. 3, to retain the cutters uponthe pins 8 for, normally, the heads do not -rise above the positionshown in Fig. 3, their lower ends being in front of the holes 7 of thecutters retaining the'latter upon the pins but allowing the cutters toswing inwardly without trouble.

When it is desired to remove one or more of the cutters, the plungerscan be moved slightly above the position shown in Fig. `3. The outerportion of the cutter is grasped and moved slightly inwardly todisengage the same from the pin. The cutter is then moved upwardlyswinging the lower end outwardly whereby the lcutter may be easilyremoved through the slot.

I have also provided means for automatically `raising the plungers toallow the cutters to swing inwardly when they engage the hole or wellcasing y:is-the under reamer is being raised out of the hole through thecasing thereof` For' this purpose the upper portion "of the cylinder 1is provided witha diametrically extending slot 22 into which the -upperend of the plunger rodeXtends. cross arni 23 is fixed to the upper end'of the plunger rod and held in position thereon by `means of a nut 24.Apair of trips '25, areA mounted tol swing out of and into each end 'ofthe slot 22 at opposite sides of the body of the underreamer. Each tripis beveled at each end, as shown at 26 and has a longitudinal slot 27therethrough, see Fig. 7. In order to connect each trip to the body ofthe underreamer, a link 28 is pivoted at'its outer end v29 to the lowerend of the trip within the slot 27. The inner end 29a is pivoted betweenthe walls of the slot 22. Two bell crank levers 30 having spacingbearings 30a are pivoted intermediate their ends, as indicated at 31between the walls of the body of the underreamer, and at their outerends 32 project into the slots 27 and are pivoted to the trips at theirupper ends. y These levers are arranged in cross relation to each other,as shown in Figs.

2 and 3 and upon opposite sides of the plunger rod, as shown in Figs. 4and 7, and have their inner ends engaging the cross bar 23.

Threaded within the head of the underreamer, as shown at 33, is a bit orcutter y 34 having a knife edge at its lower end. This bit coperateswith theadjustable cutters. This bit is for the purpose of reaming holesthat are caving in and bridging over, as one can by means of it get downinto the cave or bridge and ream the hole without it being necessary tochange tools.

the underreamer within theupper portion' of the same and in position tobe lowered into the hole or well. A cylindrical ring 36- encircles thebody ot' the underreamer and incloscs the trips 25 holding theminnonprojected position. The ring 36 is of substantially the same diameteras the casin 35 and as the underreamer is lowered, it wi be seen thatthe lower edge of the ring will engage the upper edge of the casing, asshown at 37 and will be held against further downward movement, and willbe finally disengaged from the underreamer entirely when the latter hascompletely entered the Casing. However, when the underreamer is withinthe casing, the walls thereof serve to retain the trips in theirnon-projected position. It will be noticed that when the trips are inthis latter position that the ends of the bell crank levers will havemoved upwardly moving the plunger rod with the plunger heads out ofengagement with the inner edges ot the cutters, allowing the lower endsthereof to swing inwardly out of the way. It is for this reason that theouter edges ot' the cutters are more or less beveled, as Shown at 10 inorder th'at as they engage the casing 35 of the hole or well they willbe moved out of the way. As soon as the trips 25 projectl beyond thelower end of the casing 35, the spring 2l is allowed to again force theplunger heads downwardly between the inner edges of the cutters andforce them outwardly and then the reaming or boring operation iscontinued or begun. When it is desired to pull the underreamer out andback up through the casing 35, the beveled edges 26 of the trips engagethe lower end of the casing and the trips will be moved inwardly intothe position shown in Fig. 3, thereby raising the plunger up out of theway of the cutters. When the portions ot the underreamer having thecutters projecting therefrom enter the casing 35, the latter will camthe cutters inwardly out of the way whereby the underreamer can bepulled up through the casing without danger of the `Cutters marring thesame in any respect. At the same time, the cutters themto the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, for obvious modifications willbe apparent' to anyone skilled in-the art.l v

y What is claimed is 1. In an underreaner, a cylinder provided with alower series and an uppeiseries of circumferentially arrangedlongitudinally 1 extending slots, a cutter movably mounted in each slot,a plunger having heads thereon adapted to engage the -cutters tosimultaneously `actuate the upper and lower .series thereof, and meansfor actuating said plunger to Aallow the cutters to move inwardly or tohold the ysame rigidly projected in their slots.

2-1i; an underreamer, a". cylinder .having circumferentially arrangedslots having bev- @16d AIlppllfllld lower ends whichl convergeoutwardly, cutters detachabl'y held in the cylinder' and havingcorresponding beveledI ends; adapted to. engage the beveled ends ofthe:1slots, means detachablyfconnecting the cuttersto the cylinder andaplunger having a head adapted to engagethe inner edges of the cutters tohold them in projected position and thereof.

3. In an underreamer, a cylinder having a i plurality of slots therein,an .inwardly projecting pin at the upper end of and immediately aboveeach slot, cutters loosely and removably attached at their'upper endsto.

said pins and adapted to be moved through said slots to extends beyondthe cylinder. or

to be moved to a position within the cylindemand a plunger having a headadapted to force the cutters outwardly and'tohold. the same rigidlywithin the slots and movable upwardly to allow the cutters to swinginwardly, said plunger serving to retain the cuttersllupon said pins.

4. In an underreamer, a cylinder having a plurality of longitudinallyextending slots spaced circumferentially -therearound and having beveledupper and lower. edges converging outwardly, a Cutter loosely connectedto said cylinder at its upper end imme diately above each'slot andprovided with corresponding beveied portions adapted to engage thebeveled portions of the slot, the

lower end of each cutter being4 provided with stop, the outer' edges ofthe cutters eXtending downwardly and outwardly constituting camsurfaces, the inner edges extending downwardly and inwardly, and a.plunger for forcing Said Cutters Outwmdly' Y longitudinal slots,

5. In an underreamer, a body having slots tapering outwardly therein,cutters lhaving portions correspondingly shaped to said slots andadapted to engage therewith, means for detachably connecting the cuttersto the body above the slots, a plunger acting upon' the with each otherpivoted to said cylinder and held normally projected by means of saidspring, and a connection between said tripsA and said-plunger rodwhereby when the trips are moved inwardly by means of external pressure,the plunger j head will ,be moved oui? of engagement with thecutters.

movably mounted in said slots, a plunger rod provided with a headengaging said cutters to holdjthe-same projected and rigid, saidcylinder being pro- 'vided Awith a diametrically extending slot abovevsaid cutters intoA which the plunger rod prevent accidental Idetachmentprojects, a spring for normally moving said plunger head intoeng'agementwith saidcutters, a cross bar atvthe upper end of said y n anunderreamer, a cylinder having a serles of slots arrangedcircumferentially .-vtherearound, cutters plunger rod, bell crank leverspivoted.with.. f

1n said diametrically rextending slot and having arms engaging saidcross bar, trips pivotally4connected at certain ends to the oppositeends of said bell crank levers and having a link-'connection at theiropposite ends to the walls of said slot, said spring normally tending tohold said trips in projected position, the movement of the trips in theopposite direction raising the plunger rod and disengaging the headthereof from v the cutters.

8. In an underreamena cylinder provided with a yseries ofcircumferentially arranged cutters mounted in said slots, a plunger rodprovided with a head engaging said cutters to hold the samenormallyprojected, the upper portion of saidv -cylinder being provided' with adiametrif cally extending slot into which theupper end of the plungerrod projects, a cross bar xed to the upper end lof the rod and in said.

diametricaliy extending slot, a pair of trips, a pair of leversprovidedwith spaced spacing bearings and rhaving arms arranged uponopposite sides of said plunger rod and engaging the cross bar, theinnerof said spacing bearings pivotally connecting the levers the cylinderfor the detachable connection' of the cutters therewith, a plungermounted within said cylinder and movable into engagement with saidcutters to cause the same to project beyond the cylinder, andopposedtrips movable longitudinally of the cylin der parallel with eachother downwardly and inwardly when engaged by the lower end of the wellAcasing in drawing the underreamer upwardly through said casing, wherebythe plunger is controlled to release the cutters.

10. In an underreamer, a body, spaced 'series of cutters radiallyarranged longitudinally in the body and movable laterally within andwithout the same, a plunger slidably fitted within said body and havingheads thereon adapted to engage the cutters for simultaneouslyprojecting the series exteriorly of the body, and trip means movableparallel with the longitudinal eXtent of the body for actuating saidplunger to allow the cutters to move inwardly of the body or to rigidlyhold the cutters projected therefrom. t

11. An underreamer of the character described comprising a body, cuttersdetachably and movably mounted interiorly of said body to be extendedradially exteriorly thereof into active position, means interiorly ofthe body for hangin the cutters therein, mechanism operative upon thecutters to allow the retracting and the rigid projecting of the samewithin and without the body and yalso preventing accidental detachmentof said cutters.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature 1n the presence of two'witnesses.

FRANK A. HAUGH. Witnesses: l

CHARLES STEIGER, CARRIE SHEEN.

